Spark plug



2'. 1'5 9 Sept 30 19 4 i TURAN 0 ,852

SPARK PLUG Filed Sept. 22, 921

Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

UNITED: STATES JOHN TUnoAN, or SOUTH AKRON, OHIO.

SPARK PLUG.

Application filed September 22, 1921. Serial No. 502,353.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN TURoAN, a citizen of Yugoslavia, residing at South Akron, in the county of Summit and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark Plugs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in spark plugs of that type constructed with a spark intensifying gap.

The primary object of the invention is to generally simplify and improve devices of the present kind whereby a simple and durable construction is produced.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a spark plug including inner and outer electrodes, the outer electrode comprising a bushing with an internal annular shoulder, the electrodes being held concentrio and spaced from each other by means of a two-part insulator, and the parts of the insulator being held within the bushing electrode by means of the inner electrode and a nut threaded upon the upper end thereof whereby the useof a threaded follower in the upper end of the bushing is rendered unnecessary. The invention also contemplates a construction of this kind wherein the upper section of the insulator is provided with a lateral extension upon its upper end carrying a binding post for connection with the conductor and cooperating with the inner electrode and the nut thereon for securing a spark intensifying device upon the upper surface of the upper insulator part or section.

\Vith the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the'invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a substantially central vertical sectional view of a spark plug constructedin accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon line III-III of Fig. 1

Figure 4c is a topplan View of the spark intensifying unit or device,

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the de vice shown in Fig. at, and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken upon line VI-VI of Fig. 4:.

Referring more in detail to the several views the present invention embodies an outer electrode in the nature of a hollow bushing 5 with a reduced externally threaded lower end portion 6 adapted to be screwed into the cylinder block of an internal combustion engine in the usual way, the bore of the upper portion of the bushing 5 being preferably larger than that of the lower portion of the bushing as shown, and the bore of the intermediate portion of the bushing being smallest by the provision of an internal annular shoulder 7 on the bushing.

An insulator separates and maintains concentric relationbetween the outer electrode 5 and an inner electrode 8 whichis preferably in the nature of a headed bolt. The insulator is constructed of two parts, the lower one of which is indicated by the numeral 9 and which is inthe form of a cylinder arranged to snugly fit within the bore of the lower portion 6 and to project slightly beyond the lower end thereof when engaging the adjacent surface of the shoulder 7. The bore of the insulator section 9 snugly receives the shank of the bolt 8 and the latter is provided with a flat head '10 engaging the lower end of the insulator section. 9 and having a radial upwardly directed spur 11 terminating in ClOSe proximity to the adjacent end of the bushing 5 to provide the spark gap between said bushing and the head of the bolt; The upper insulator section 12 is provided with a vertical leg portion having a central bore through which the bolt 8 extends and formed to snugly fit within the bore of the upper portion of the bushing 5 in spaced relation to the shoulder 7. A compressible insulator packing l3 fills the space between the electrodes and between the adjacent ends of theinsulator sections 9 and 12 so that when the nut 14 is threaded onto the upper end of the inner electrode or bolt 8 the compressible material 13 is compressed and the insulator sections are drawn toward each other so as to be tightly and effectively secured in place within the bushing.

The upper insulator section 12 is provided with a lateral extension 15 at its upper end having a vertical opening therethrough parallel with the bore of the insulator sections 9 and 12 through which the bolt or electrode 8 extends, and the extension 15 carries a binding post including a headed bolt 16 the shank of which extends through the opening of the extension 15 with the head of said bolt 16 engaging the under surface of the extension 15, a pair of nuts .17 and 18 being threaded upon the upper end of the bolt 16 above the insulator section 12.

A spark intensifying device or unit is secured upon the upper plane surface of the upper insulator section. 12 by means of the bolts 8 and 16 and nuts 141 and 1'7 and this spark intensifying unit comprises an inverted pan-shaped casing 19 of insulating material preferably having a shape corre sponding to the shape ofthe upper end of the insulator section 12 and having a pair of spaced conductors 20 and 21 secured therein by means of riveted bushings 22 of conducting material, said bushings 22 being flanged from the upper surface of the casing 19 and the under surface of the conductors 21, said bushings 22 being extended through openings in the conductors 2-0 and 21 and in the ends of the casing 19. The bushings 22 are disposed to snugly receive the upper endsof the bolts 8 and 16 so that the nuts 14 and 17 will securely fasten the intensifying unit to the insulator section 12. The conductor from the source of electricity may be fastened in the usual way between the nuts 17 and 18 and the current may then flow to the bushing 22 which surrounds the bolt 16 and then to the conductor 20. The adjacent edges of the conductors 20 and .21 are preferably formed in V-shapewith the apices in spaced but close relation so as to provide a spark gap which the current must jump to reach the conductor 21 from which it may pass through the bushing 22 of the inner electrode or bolt 8.

In order to insure securing of the spark intensifying unit in proper position upon the upper end of the insulator section 12 even though slight difficulties in workmanship might occur, the openings in the insulator section through which the bolts 8 and 16 extend are preferably transversely elongated as shown in Fig. 3 so as to permit lateraldisplacement of the casing 19 with the bolts 10 and 8 for this purpose.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides an extremely simple .and durable form of sparklplug including a spark intensifying unit of durable construction so that the device is calculated to meet with all the requirementsfor a commercial successful use.

While there is here-in shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed as new is 2- 1. In a spark plug, an outer and an inner electrode, an insulator separating the said electrodes and positioned with the inner electrode projecting thereabove, a binding post projecting upwardly from said insulator in spaced relation to the inner electrode, a casing having spaced openings positioned upon the top of said insulator with the openings receiving the projecting ends of said inner electrode and binding post, a conductor encircling the projecting end of the inner electrode, a second conductor encircling the projecting end of the binding post, said conductors being spaced to form a spark gap, and means for retaining the casing and conductors in position upon said insulator.

2. In a spark plug, an inner and an outer electrode, an insulator having a plain surface separating said electrodes and positioned with the inner electrode projecting above said plain surface, a binding post projecting upwardly from the plain surface of said insulator and Spaced from the inner electrode, a conductor carried by the projecting end of said inner electrode, a second conductor carried by the projecting end of said binding post, said conductors being spaced to form a spark gap, an inverted pan-shaped casing having openings positioned upon the plain surface of said insulator with said conductors residing be tween said casing and said plain surface and with the inner electrode and binding post projecting through said openings, and means for retaining said casing and conductors in position upon said insulator.

3. In a spark plug, an outer and an inner electrode, an insulator having an upper plain surface separating said electrodes and positioned with the inner electrode projecting thereabove, a binding post projecting upwardly from the upper plain surface of said insulator and spaced from the inner electrode, a conductor encircling said inner electrode, a second conductor encircling said binding post, said conductors resting on the plain surface of said insulator and spaced from each other to form a spark gap, an inverted cup-shaped casing having spaced openings positioned on the plain surface of said insulator and coactingtherewith to encase said conductors, the openings in said casing receiving said inner electrode and said binding post, and means for retaining said casing and conductors in position upon the upper plain surface of said insulator.

4. In a spark plug, an outer and an inner electrode, an insulator having an upper plain surface separating said electrodes and positioned with the inner electrode projecting thereabove, a binding post projecting upwardly from said plain surface and spaced from said inner electrode, a conductor encircling said inner electrode, a conductor encircling said binding post, said conductors being spaced from said inner electrode and said binding post and spaced from each other to form a spark gap therebetween, an inverted cup-shaped casing formed of insulating material positioned upon the plain surface of the insulator and coacting therewlth to encase said conductors, said casing having openings for receiving said inner electrode and said binding post with the edges forming said openings spaced therefrom, tubular conductor elements positioned in the openings formed in said casing and the spaces between said conductors and the inner electrode and the binding post for electrically connecting the same, and means for retaining said casing and conductors in position upon said in- 25 sulator.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

7 JOHN TURCAN. Witness: I

R. J. WHELAN. 

